How to Read Tablature

Let's Get Started!

Tabulature, or TAB for short, is the most common method of writing music for the guitar. It is different from Classical music notation in that; TAB uses ordinary numbers and keyboard characters as opposed to standard musical notation which uses symbols.

Because of this format, anyone with a computer can write or read TAB making it the most user friendly way to communicate and read guitar music. You can easily see where you put your fingers because TAB relates directly to the fret board of your guitar

Because TAB is very easy to read we will use it exclusively through these lessons. You should have no problems learning TAB in a few short minutes of reading.

TAB does have a weak point; and that is that you can't easily notate rhythm with it. This shouldn't pose a problem though, as the rhythm for each exercise will be notated using the strum indicators that were introduced in lesson 1.

To start, have a look at your guitar and you will clearly see that it has six strings going from thinnest to thickest. On a TAB diagram, the thinnest string, (or 1st string as it's most commonly called) is at the top - the thickest (or 6th string) is at the bottom.

The following diagram shows you how TAB relates to the guitar fret board:

Fret number

Some of you may notice that this guitar seems upside down in relation to how you play. This is simply the way guitar music is generally written. Now, if you transfer this same model to a written format you will get TAB, which can be seen below.

TAB score

The lines indicate each string on a guitar. The top line of the TAB is the thinnest string and the bottom line indicates the thickest string of the guitar. TAB uses numbers, placed on each line (or string) to indicate fret to press down the string(s).

Exercise 1

The tab diagram below shows the 1st string (thinnest string) being played. The number refers to the fret that you should press down. In this case a zero is displayed which means you DON'T need to press the string down. This is known as playing the string 'open'.

Play the audio for this exercise.

So if you were to play the above piece of TAB on your guitar, you would pick the thinnest string once with your plucking hand and do nothing with your fret hand.

Tip: If you are having trouble with this concept, you can watch a video or listen to an audio example of the above exercise to see and hear it for yourself.

Exercise 2

Now let's start pushing down some strings. Look at the next example below have a god at playing the note the TAB chart indicates.

Play the audio for this exercise above.

If you pressed down the thickest string at the 3rd fret then you played the exercise correctly. If you are still unsure whether you are playing it right, refer to the video below.

Exercise 3

Let's try another one. Play the following piece of TAB:

Play the audio for this exercise above.

This TAB diagram above indicates the 2nd string (second thinnest) and you should be pressing down on the first fret.

Tip: Once again, there is video available for this example

Things become a little more complicated when you are required to play chords, however the basic principles already outlined still apply. The only difference is that you will be required to hold down more strings and strum more strings with your fingers/pick. Let's look at the the A chord looks like on a TAB diagram.

A Major Chord

Play the audio for this exercise above.

The 1st and 5th strings are played open while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings are played at the 2nd fret. The 6th string is NOT played in the A Major Chord. This is often indicated by an empty space on the line or by an 'X'.

If you have read the TAB correctly your fingers should look like the image below or how it is shown in the video (below a bit further!). The A major chord can be played a number of different ways, all of which are correct.

 

The Repeat Sign

Below is a musical symbol that we will be using from now on:

The symbol above is called a repeat sign. When you see this symbol, you go back to the start of the piece you are playing and play it over again.

Exercise 4

Just to make sure that you are getting the TAB concept, have a go at the following (Watch for the repeat sign).

Play the audio for this exercise above.

If you were playing the D chord, you were correct. Check with the video below:

So now you know how to use basic TAB as it applies to notes and full chords. In this introductory set of lessons you will use TAB to learn different chords and by lesson six you will be able to play the full song, 'The Midnight Special'.

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End of Lesson

Great Work!

In the next lesson we learn:

• The 'G' chord
• Some new techniques
• How to change between chords
• A few exercises for you to get down

Until next time!

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